Mayor Thomas Broderick, Jr., SER North America, LLC. and Sirmax announced today that SER North America, LLC. will be investing $17,650,000 in the development of a new state of the art facility that will repurpose plastics for future use in consumer products. The new plant will be an approximately 130,000 square foot production facility. The company will be purchasing 35 acres of land immediately south of the Sirmax facility. SER North America is a subsidiary of Sirmax.
The company anticipates creating at least 38 new jobs with a total annual payroll of approximately $1,334,000 plus benefits. The new jobs will be phased in over a period of time with 25 of the new jobs being created not later than September 30, 2022.
The new facility will produce a high quality plastic product following a recycling and extrusion process that is similar to that is currently produced by the Sirmax facility. Sirmax presently produces thermoplastic compounds that are used in all sectors, including appliance, automotive, power tools and consumer products worldwide. This puts Anderson at the forefront of the global plastics business, which is requiring a greater amount of repurposed plastic content in plastic goods each year. The European Union standards for the percent of recycled plastics continues to grow and will reach 90% by 2030. This movement is being echoed in a number of Asian Pacific Countries and number of US States such as California.
The arrival of the new business is the result of several months of negotiation between the City of Anderson and it’s Economic Development department led by Economic Development Director Greg Winkler and Mayor Broderick and Massimo Pavin, CEO and Lorenzo Ferro, Country Manager of Sirmax Group.
Lorenzo Ferro stated, “We are very happy to be able to expand in Anderson. We have always had a great relationship with the community. We are pleased to be able to expand our business presence here and foster the growth in the Anderson community, which is becoming the headquarters of our North America operations. We are excited to be leading in today’s needs to reduce plastic waste in the environment and provide second life to plastics cooperating with our global costumers in the development of environmentally friendly materials and applications.”
Mayor Broderick stated, “We are excited to continue working with Sirmax and their newest venture that will continue to bring diversity and opportunity into our community. Anderson has a long tradition in providing innovation that has made a difference not only in our community but across our country and beyond.”
Greg Winkler stated, “This is the beginning in the future of the plastic industry. It is only appropriate that Anderson is at the forefront of this industry as we have been in the past.”
As an inducement to the company the city, subject to approval by Anderson Redevelopment Commission, Economic Development Commission, Plan Commission, and City Council, is proposing that the company receive $1.5M net in TIF Bond proceeds as an inducement to locate in Anderson on the former Guide brownfield site along with $650,000 in supporting infrastructure, including rail spur and utility expansion, which also will be paid for with TIF funds. In addition to the productive reuse of former Guide brownfield site and the creation of new jobs, the city expects the company to pay approximately three times as much in total property taxes over ten years as it will receive as an inducement along with a payroll over this time period that is nine times the City’s original investment.
The proposed agreement will go in front of the ARC for approval August 6, 2019 at 5 p.m., the EDC on August 8, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. and the Anderson City Council August 8, 2019 at 7 p.m.